Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said Monday that she will propose a minimum wage increase for county workers and businesses in unincorporated areas that mirrors the plan recently approved by the city of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The proposal would raise the wage from $9 an hour to $15 by 2020. Kuehl officially introduced the plan Tuesday, to be scheduled for a vote next week.
“Under her proposal, the timeline of increases would follow the city’s trajectory. An increase in the statewide minimum wage to $10 an hour in January would be followed by a bump to $10.50 in July of 2016. After that, it would gradually increase to $15 by July 2020. Companies with fewer than 26 employees would be given an extra year to implement the plan. Kuehl did not address the issue of mandatory sick days or an exemption for union workers, both of which became controversial in the city wage discussions,” the Times said.
“My main concern has been trying to help people rise out of poverty,” Kuehl said. “The truth is our wages have not been keeping up with the rising cost of rent, housing, even food. It’s very difficult to live in L.A. these days.”
